easy way to winterize?

[skinnydip]

First winter coming up with 5.7gief dp-c1. Here in nc we get some cold nights but some days in the 70s not unusual through the winter. I would like to use the boat on nice days and winterize between uses but don't want to spend half day every time i use it. My question is, is there a quick way to get a/f in the system? Its fwc so not worried about tstat. I don't have muffs to fit this outdrive. Would the ps cooler be a good place to introduce the a/f? What about using a funnel and pouring it into the flush connector? Anybody else do this? Is draining all the plugs easier?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: easy way to winterize?

Drain it. Is it a closed cooling system or fresh water cooled? You do have to worry about the thermostat in a fresh water cooled system when using antifreeze.

 

[alldodge]

Re: easy way to winterize?

First winter coming up with 5.7gief dp-c1. Here in nc we get some cold nights but some days in the 70s not unusual through the winter. I would like to use the boat on nice days and winterize between uses but don't want to spend half day every time i use it. My question is, is there a quick way to get a/f in the system?

Easiest way is with muffs (which you don't have) and a large container of AF.

Its fwc so not worried about tstat. I don't have muffs to fit this outdrive. Would the ps cooler be a good place to introduce the a/f?

No. unless you get another pump and a large container of AF and pump it in. It could work but you could not be certant the AF got through the entire engine and exhaust without starting the engine. You do not want to start the engine without water going to the impeller, it will burn it up.

What about using a funnel and pouring it into the flush connector? Anybody else do this?

No, and No

Is draining all the plugs easier?

Yes
Air doesn't freeze, if you get all the water out you will be fine.
One plug on each side of the block, one on each exhaust manifold, and one on the PS cooler (or pull the cooler hose off)

Only other way is to put a heat source in the engine compartment
Xtreme Heaters 600 Watt Engine Compartment Heater 675 Cu Feet XXXHEAT - iboats

 

[Maclin]

Re: easy way to winterize?

FWC or Fresh Water Cooled to me means the engine has a closed system that circulates antifreeze thru a heat exchanger that is raw water cooled. The raw water side has to be drained but the closed side should be left alone if it has good antifreeze...

If it is raw water cooled (no heat exchanger) then I think just draining the block and exhaust manifolds and loosening the raw water pump front cover to drain there is enough to protect from freezing in between cold weather runs, or for the winter storage season. My manual (for 570DP) shows that draining is all that is needed to protect from freezing.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: easy way to winterize?

Had a lapse on closed vs raw cooling. :facepalm: I still say drain and forget the antifreeze.

 

[LegacyT]

Re: easy way to winterize?

On my raw water aq231. I drain the block, manifolds, and raw water pump. Then I remove the thermostat and retighten everything (raw pump cover, thermostat housing n drain plugs. I then attach a separate hose to the raw water pump and fill a 5 gal pale in the boat with antifreeze and stick the hose into it. I also undo the flame arrestor. Then start the motor n suck the pale dry while spraying fogging oil into the carb.

 

[skinnydip]

Re: easy way to winterize?

it is fresh water cooled so no block draining. just manifolds heat exchanger and ps cooler and water pump. not a huge deal but was just hoping for a faster easier way to freeze proof. The faster and easier it is the more likely i will drop it in for an afternoon. Do most of you winterize once and wait till spring?

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: easy way to winterize?

It shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to drain the manifolds and heat exchanger on a fresh water cooled system. Then you're done and it's ready to drop into the lake whenever you wish. Rinse and repeat. If you want to add antifreeze AFTER you drain go right ahead but it isn't necessary and you'll just be making it a more time-consuming process. Do not just add antifreeze to a cooling system that has water already in it....by far the most common way to crack blocks and manifolds.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: easy way to winterize?

Don't do the AF bucket method. That is a guaranteed cracked block way because most will bypass the engine because of the thermostat.

 

[Maclin]

Re: easy way to winterize?

Bruce, he has closed cooling :friendly_wink:

 

[skinnydip]

Re: easy way to winterize?

let's just say for argument sake that i hypothetically poured af into the flush connector until full. bumped the motor over. refilled and repeated a few times and had af coming out of exhaust on both sides. Took about 5 minutes and a gal of af. Shouldn't this protect everything? I'm not typically one to buck the manual but it requires removing hoses from the sea water pump which is in a difficult location to the point that i wouldn't put the boat in for a half day trip if i had to do it every time. I understand why the manual wants you to drain because this is a more fool proof method and most people won't use a boat in the winter. For my application what would you do?

 

[insttech1]

Re: easy way to winterize?

First, for your flush fill method, after reading the above, I would say enjoy your cracked block....LOL!

Second, for a viable fix to your issue, I don't ever hear about anyone trying this:
1. Replace your block/manifold drain plugs w/ 1/4 turn brass valves w/ the same threads. That's 10 seconds to drain, and no wrench.
Your draining diameter will be a little smaller (maybe 1/16 to 1/8th) so you have to get straight valves and push a rod up to clear debris.

2. Put some manner of larger brass valves in your hose lines (pointed down, of course), and again, open valve, drain, close valve...done!
And you can put those in a location that is more convenient to access by cutting and/or re-routing the main lines to the pump.

Maybe this has been brought up before and rejected for whatever reason....but why not try? Just watch for leaks and valves that can vibrate open, and zip tie them closed, if necessary. It's easy to cut a zip tie.....

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: easy way to winterize?

The problem is, that isn't straight antifreeze coming out of your exhaust. It is an diluted antifreeze/water mixture. How do you know you have a strong enough mixture to ensure there will be no freezing? I realize this is just for half of your cooling system, but there's no better way to crack a block than to mix water and antifreeze together and assume it will be ok. Exhaust manifolds and water pumps are no different. Volvo wouldn't tell you the proper way to winterize unless they felt it was absolutely the best way to do it. You can take the risk if you want...it's your boat...but I definitely wouldn't take that chance on my own boat. That's a BIG expensive repair when things go south. By the way, the intake lines, pumps, and exhaust manifolds while empty will hold much more than a gallon of antifreeze.